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Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., a Filipino tycoon, is proceeding with his ambitious $1 billion casino project in southern Metro Manila. After talking with the South Korean junket operator Dowinn Group at first, Villar ultimately made the decision to move forward without a foreign partner.
“No more partner. It’s just us,” Villar confirmed in a statement to InsiderPH.
Notwithstanding the difficulties facing the Philippine gambling industry, Villar is hopeful for sustained expansion. Melco Entertainment is thinking of selling City of Dreams Manila, and Bloomberry Resorts has reported dwindling profitability for Solaire Resort. But Villar is confident in the market’s ability to bounce back.
“When you enter that kind of business, you have to think long-term,” he said.
The casino will be housed within Vista Mall Global South in Las Piñas, a property owned by Villar’s group. Converting an existing structure reduces costs and accelerates the launch timeline.
“The structure is finished. It’s a mall that I converted. We own the land, we own the structure,” Villar explained. “How do you lose money when it’s all finished?”
The project is part of Villar’s broader $1 billion investment, which also includes Brittany Hotel Global South, formerly Mella Hotel Manila. The integrated resort aims to boost tourism and real estate values in the region.
In addition to gaming revenue, Villar sees the casino as a key part of his 3,500-hectare Villar City development, a massive mixed-use project spanning multiple cities. He also highlighted plans for an 80-hectare site in Sucat, stating, “It’s an 80-hectare property in Sucat. I also want it to appreciate.”
Villar aims to open the casino by mid-2025 but remains cautious about exact timelines. While moving forward without foreign backing, he is focused on assembling an experienced team to manage operations.
“We need to have [experienced people], we’re getting a GM [general manager],” Villar noted.